Christmas-tree ornament and the like and method for the manufacture



July 24, 1928. 1,678,358

W. H. SCHNEIDER CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT AND THE LIKE AND IETHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed March 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS July 24; 1928.

W. H. SCHNEIDER CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT AND THE LIKE AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed March 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet July 24, v1928. 1,678,358

W H. SCHNEIDER CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT AND THE LIKE AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed March 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS July 24, 1928. 1,678,358

W. H. SC EID CHRISTIAS TREE 0R E A E E AND IETHOD 0 THE NUFAC 2. TH 0F ed March 1-4, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENTOR.

ww/fm A TTORNEYJ' Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI WILLIAM H. SCHNEIDER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR C.

KOOTZ, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CHRISTMAS-TREE ORNAMENT AND THE LIKE AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF.

Application filed March 14, 1925. Serial No. 15,483.

This invention relates to improvements in. Christmas tree ornaments and the like and methods for the manufacture thereof.

A variety of different means have been devised heretofore for the connection of annular margins of objects of substantially like diameters. It is one of the primary objects of this invention to rovide a novel and. improved means for uniting such margins economically, ornamentally, and in a manner which lends itself to the interconnection of such objects with other objects of a similar nature.

More particularly stated the present invention contemplates the formation of con volutions in the margins of the two members which are to be united, such convolutions having substantially parallel. sides so that when they are nested to ether with similar convolutions and are subjected to pressure the two sets of convolutions will collapse to produce a kind of dovetailed joint which will securely hold together the two objects of which the margins are thus united.

Any number of objects may be simultaneously united in this manner and it is a further object of this invention to provide a construction and method making possible the union. of more than twoobjects having corresponding marginal portions.

It is further object of this invention to devise a method and a mechanical structure which are useful in uniting radially extending elements to a single or to a plurality of objects having margins convoluted in the manner above indicated.

Further objects of this invention relate to the manufacture ofv improved articles of manufacture, one of which comprises an extremely light weight hollow body of comparatively great strength, another of which relates to devices suitable for use asshipping containers, another of which relates to a novel ornamental fabric, and another of which relates to an ornamental package of a non-refillable character.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents in side elevation the several parts of a novel and improved Christmas tree ornament as assembled preparatory to their permanent interconnection.

Figure 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale in plan of a portion of the margin of one of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical axial section through a device completely assembled from the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a shipping container made in accordance with this invention.

Figure 5 is a detail view on a greatly enlarged scale showing in section the character of joint or union produced in accordance with this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in plan of a novel fabric embodying this invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the fabric structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view in plan of a novel ornament or medallion made in accordance with this invention.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of an improved Christmas tree ornament embodying this invention.

Figure 1.0 is a side elevation of a different type of ornament.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a further type of ornament embodying this invention.

Figure 12 is aside elevation partially broken away and a vertical axial section to show a non-refillable container embodying this invention.

Figure 13 isa plan view of a die for use in the practice of this invention.

Figure 14 is a sectional view of a die taken on line 14.-14of Figure 13.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Any two bodies whether they are hollow like a hell or a hemisphere or whether one or both of them are disk-like in character may be interconnected rigidly and permanently by means of the method and structure herein to be disclosed. Furthermore, a third or even more additional bodies may be simultaneously connected with the first two. By way of illustrating the above fact, I have shown in Figure 3 two hollow bodies and one plane body united together, in Figure 4t I have shown a cylindrical body and a plane body interconnected, in Figure 7 I have shown two hemispherical bodies, in Figure 8 I have shown a plane body to which a plurality of radial elements have been connected in accordance with this invention and in Figure 12 I have showna body of generally c lindrical contour connected with a body 0 hemispherical contour.

(ill

These various illustrations may be taken as typical ol" the great variety of "terms which may be united.

in all of the variousconstructions illutrated in the accompanying); drawings the union oi two or more parts or bodies (lepeuils upon the forn'iation of substantially square sided convolutions in one or more of the several parts or bodies and the subsequent flattening of the convolutions to fold the side walls thereol into clmnping relation with each oth r and with the wells of 2rdjacent cenvolutions.

In Figure 1 there is illustrz-itcd a hell 1:? and a similar bell 16. The two bells may lie formed in the well understood manner from sheetiuel'al, bly aluminum lioil or some other y pliable substance. such as paper tin, copper or th like. Any substance which is ductile and compur tively inelastic will prove Very so. i'iactory 101' the purposes of this invention.

it will be noted that eacn oi" the bells l and 16 has been tornazd with radially extending llutings 17. The sauiie dies which form the "bodies of the bells prelerztl'ily construcl d to il oriu convolutions 18 in their margins. T lQHG convolutioir; lie in eenru'al in a common plane to which the vertical the bell noru'ul. The vertical oil the ecnyolutions are preferably substantially parallel. 'lhe more nearly parallel l: iese side portions 19 can be made, the more uniform will be the resulting joint in the completed device. Preferably the upper surfaces 20 oil" the convolutions will extend into the valleys between adjacent tlutiugs 'ii' of the body of the bell. 'l here is a (-oi'nparzitive excess oi material in the valley portions of the couvolution's which may be used to term the elevated portions 20 of the llutiiw's with a minimum displai'tement of materiel during the 'stampine" operation. This arrangement is very clearly brought out in Figure It will be understood, of course that the convolutions of bell 15 are complementary to the convolutions of hell 16 so that the convoluted margins ofthe two bells may be r ested together. The two bells may either bedirectly united together or a re-ent'orcing dish or web may be interposed in the manner suggested in Figures l and 3. It lhe disk 25 is used it will have termed in its iniii'gii'i by suitable dies or otherwise a s-cl' o't couvolul'ions l8 corresponding exactly with those already described; When the disk is used its eonvolutions will nest with the convolutions ot the two bells upon either side of it. i

After the convoluted margins of the several parts are in nested relation they are subjected to pressure in a direction tending i the coi'ivolutions which thereupon shown in l ivure 5. In practice the entire periphery of the bodies so joined will not he as regular as the illustration in Figure 5 although there will usually be parts of the periphery in which the flattening will occur to produce dovetailed or interlocked portions of practically perfect regularity. As is clearly shown, in Figure the side walls ll) 'ol the two articles 15 and 16 have colapsed. Thereby the aliuiitting upper surfaces 20 of adjacent convolutiiuis are brought into close proximity and so likew se are the under surfaces 21 of each convolution brought into close proximity with the correspondin surfaces o'l 'convolutious upon either side thereof. Due to the great pi sure with which tliis operation is pre'l ably per formed and due to the ineltuaticity oi the preferred materials for the articles thus oined the result is av very rig t JOlfllj or herently reenforced along radial llllm and having great tensile strength due to the n'iu ltiplicity oi points at which the two arti cles are interlocked The iuliei'hicj:- 1g operation preferably performed in a die similar to that shown in Figures 13 and 14L. The die illustrated is one for joining hemispherical articles but of course be understood that the torn] it will of the articles to be joined is broadly inimaterial. A base nieinber 550 for the die is provided with an interior recess 31 in Whiol a die plunger 32 is reciproeable. The plunger is provided. With downuurw 0X- tending rods 33 which are spring" supported as illustrated and tend to lift the plunger 32 to the limited extent to which movement isperu'iitted by the spring seats 3. hen the spring seats 34- contact with the cilia cent under surface of the'hlock or base :3 the upper surtace El i-"oil plunger 32 will he in substantial registry with the llzit siulizice ol the die block 30. The die him-h il and plunger 32 may couvei'iieutly be provided respectively with suitably positi'ueil corresponding grooves 36 and 3? adapt-er o receive transverse cords or wires her il'hr-r to be described. A second'die plu 3T complementary to die plunger 3; is o .tec by a suitable connecting rod Elf-l. l lhe plunger has a flat surface 39 adapted to co-operate with the flat surf e 3 ot plunger 32 to compress couvolutious or folds of material therebelween.

In practice the two bodies to be joined are placed"with' their convoluted margins in nested relation on die pluuger 32, die pluu 37 being then elevated out of the way. Die plunger 37 is now lowered until its surillace39 contacts with the conyolutioin; of the iuterposedbodies whereupon the flattening of the 'convolutions is commenced. When the resistance to this flattening operation develops to a sufiiciently high degree the yieldable plunger 32 i. impelled downwardly Within die block and any surplus of Tl l Gil

l ll

material overhanging surface 35 of the die block is cut therefrom by the shearing action of the plunger 37' as it enters said block. 1

The downward movement of the plunger 32 has a further function of limiting the initial degree of pressure which it is possible to apply to the work. With different materials it may be found necessaryto vary the compression of the springs which support plunger 32. It Will be obvious that during the downward movement of the die plunger 37' toward the extreme position in which it is illustrated in Figure 14 the pressure upon the work cannot exceed the degree of compression exerted by the spring supporting plunger 32. Ultimately the nested convolutions may be subjected to heavy pressure to clench them in dovetailed relation as shown in Figure 5 but due to this arrangement for limiting the initial pressure to which the convolutions are subjected, time is afforded for the displacement of the metal or other material of the convolutions without exceeding the tensile strength of such material. In this wa the operation may be performed success ully under conditions which might result in rupturing or tearing the material if the full pressure of the die were applied all at once.

\Vherever two bodies are joined by a flattened convolution of the character herein described it is possible to introduce between them a strand of cord, wire or tinsel. Irrespective of their specific character such strands will be designated herein by reference character 40. It will be noted that the forming die shown in Figures-13 and 14 is provided with grooves extending at right angles to each other and adapted to receive cords 40 and to protect such cords from being sheared during the operation of the die. This makes it possible to form spheres 41 which are constructed from hemispheres in the manner already described, the hemispheres being joined by interlocking convo-. 'lutions in the form of a radial flange 42,

each sphere having strands 40 passing through it at right angles in two directions. Each of the several spheres 41. joins two strands 40 at a point of connection and as a result it is possible to provide a novel and very decorative fabric, the strands 40 of which may comprise wire, string, or tinsel,

.' and the body'of which comprises spheres so positioned and constructed as to hold the strands in their proper relation and to present decorative light reflecting surfaces to the eye.

Figure 8 shows a construction in which a single disk such as that shown at 25 in Figure 1 is provided with a series of radially disposed bristles or tinsel strips 45, such strips being laid into the convolutions of the disk andthe'convolutions being subse- 'Within the cup quently flattened to retain frictionally the strands 45. Such a device resents a brilliantsunburst or medallions ec't as is clearly shown in Figure 8 and is admirably'adapted for use as a novel type of Christmas tree ornament.

Figure '9 shows two bells similarto those 1 "42 in clamping relation upon a strand'40 which extends axially through the united bells and is fastened to their respective ends as is shown at the top of Figure 9. The openings 46 in the hollow article formed b the union of the bells render sphere 41 visible and if fine wire or thread is used for the strand 40 it will have suflicient torsional resilience to permit the sphere 41 to rotate within the bells when a draft of air is directed upon the flange 42 projecting at one side thereof.

i In Figure 10 the two bells 48 and-49 are not directly joined but their convoluted margins have been flattened to retain portions of the same strands 40 which, in this view, are illustrated as being formed of tinsel. Since the tinsel is engaged in the flange portions 42 of both of these bells it holds the bells together in spaced relationand renders visible the sphere 41 supported therein in the same manner as the sphere shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 11 twostrands 40 have been passed in each direction through the sphere 41. 'At each point where the strands issuetree ornaments but the invention is serviceable in other connections as is shown by Figures 4 and 12. Figure 12 like the Christmas tree ornaments may conveniently be constructed of foil or other extremely light weight metal. It comprises a cup 60 having a flat bottom at 61 so as to be adapted to rest upon. a table or like sup orting surface. is a cylindrlcal container 62 which is considerably higher than the cup and serves as a guide to position the cover 63. The cover will preferably be constructed of tinfoil or light weight sheet metal like the ill ill)

cup and after the container 62 has been filled with some article of commerce the cover 63 and cup 60 may be united in the manner already described. In other words, they will initially be provided with fluted margins. The portions (i l and 65 of the cup and cover respectively will be rolled outwardly adjacent such margins to provide sufiiciout material for the formation of the convolutions without tearing the foil. When the convolutions are compressed a flange 42 will be formed similar to that already described.

Such a package may be sold commercially and used as a shipping container inasmuch as the cup 60 and cover 63 are very strongly joined together.

The purchaser of such a package may readily sever the cover from the cup by taking ordinary shears and cutting away the flange 42 is shown at 66 at the right hand side of Figure 12. Thereupon the cover 63 may be readily lifted from cup 61 to expose the contents of the liner 62. When a portion of the contents of the liner has been used the cover 63 may be replaced, being positioned on the cup by the liner which extends for a considerable distance above the joint between the cup and cover. Thus the purchaser may keep the contents of the package covered and protected during use but the package cannot again be sealed following the cutting away of flange 42.

The package illustrated is particularly adapted for the shipment and vending of face powder. The liner 62 may be filled with powder and a powder puff fitted within the cover 63. The contents of the package will be made readily accessible to the purchaser when the flange 42 is cut away but when the powder is gone the package cannot again be scaled.

Figure 4 illustrates a can such as is adapted for use in the preservation. and shipment of vegetables or the like. It has a cylindrieal body 70 to which a disk-like base shown in dotted lines at 71 has been joined by-means of the flattening of nested convolutions on the body and base to produce the usual flange-42. The disk-like bottom 71. of

.the can may correspond exactly to the disk 25 shown in i ligure 1 except for the weight of material used. llhe can will preferably be formed of tin .or of some other metal of greater weight than foil.

The top of them-an is illustrated as being unsealed, beingpro vided with the open convolutions 1 8. Adislt similar to thatshown at 71 at the bottom of the can maybe employed as a cover and the can may readily be sealed by the applicationof pressure to flatten the convolu'tions 18 on the can and cover. In this manner a joint which is practically hermetically tight n ay be accomiilisljied without thenso of solder and may readily be opened with ordinary metal shears by cutting away one of the flanges 42 at its top or bottom.

Most of the articles which may be joined in accordance with this invention are formed by a stamping operation and consequently by suitable modifications of the die which performs the stamping it ispossible to form the several parts of these articles with substantially square sided convolutions in accordance with the disclosure herein. WVhere such convclutions are formed it requires but a single operation to complete the union of two or more parts with a very permanent and strong joint. Thus the invention is suited not only for the manufacture of Christmas tree ornaments but also for the manufacture of shipping containers and packages for goods of commerce. The invention lends itself to the coi'istruction of a wide variety of articles of distinctive form and appearance such as it would be diiiicult and impracticable to manufacture on a coinincrcial scale by methods heretofore known. It will be apparent, therefore, that the objects of this invention are satisfied by the method and structures herein disclosed.

I claim:

1. A new article of manufacture comprising two elements each provided with a porvtion formed with ,a plurality of convolutions each opening marginally of said portion and interlocked with a corresponding convolution of the other element.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a de vice having flattened marginal convolutions and an element having a part engaged in one of said convolutions A new article of manufacture comprisng a plurality of elements each. having a flange portion provided with convolutions opening radially thereof and interlocked with the eonvolutions of tlie other portion. ft. new article ofmanufaeture comprising a plurality of elements each having a flange portion provided with convolutions opening radially thereof and interlocked w th the convolutions of the other portion, sa d elements each being composed of thin flexible material. whereby said flange portions maybe cut for .releasingsaid elements one from ,the otherf 5. A new article of manufacture comprising a plurality of elements each having a flange portion provided with a plurality of convolutions interlocked with the convolutions ,of the other portion.

6. As a new article of manufacture. a device having a fluted body terminating in convoluted margins having alternately elevated and depressed portions, the elevated portions of said convoluted margins being in registry with theparts of said body intermediate of flutings therein.

Y. new article vice having a fluted body terminating in convoluted margins having alternately elevated and depressed portions, the elevated portions of said convoluted margins being in registry with the parts of said body intermediate of flutings therein, and the parts of said margins intermedate said elevated and depressed portions being substantially in vertical parallelism.

8.i'\ new article of manufacture comprising a pair of elements composed of thin material and each having a flange portion provided with convolutions opening radial- 1y thereof, and a re-enforcing web between said. elements and having its marginal por tion provided with convolutions opening radially thereof, the convolutions of said flange portions and marginal portions being interlocked.

9. A new article of manufacture comprising a pair of elements composed of thin material and. each having a flange provided with a plurality of convolutions, and a reenforcing web between said elements and having its marginal portion provided with a plurality of convolutions, the convolution of said portions being interlocked.

10. A new article of manufacture comprising an element having a flange provided with convolutions opening radially thereof,

and a web having its marginal portion provided with convolutions interlocked with the convolutions of said flange.

11,. A new article of manufacture comprising an element having a flange provided with convolutions, and a web having its marginal portion provided with convolutions interlocked with the convolution of said flange.

WILLIAM H. SCHNEIDER. 

